My experience with loosing a BLue Angel

It was beautiful April day. Blue skies and few clouds. My mother, my son and I spending a day out together. Making a memory with the family unit we are.
After fighting traffic for an hour to get into the base and park, we finally made our way up to the main area of attraction. We laid our blankets down on the grass and enjoyed overpriced hotdogs, chips and bottles of water for lunch. As I 'people watched' I saw children displaying many different souvenirs of their day out.
My son became one of them, wielding his Blue Angel model jet around and waiting to be reminded of why we came. We saw the Angels about 8 months ago in Charleston. As memories seem to fade, he could hardly recall how amazing they are.
I couldn't tell you who was more excited to see the Angels take flight. My son who was so entranced, he forgot about his Snickers ice cream melting in his hands, or me who was jumping up and down like a little girl without any inhibitions.
To watch each pilot maneuver their jet so precisely. They flew 18" apart at times!!!! EIGHTEEN INCHES APART
They passed each other inverted (up-side down) they passed each other at 1,000 miles per hour!
As the realization that the show was coming to an end, we decided to leave a little early to get to the car. We saw a little smoke over the trees as we passed the car show that was near the gate entrance. I didn't think anything of it. Probably some unfortunate house fire.
As we tried to leave, we found ourselves in yet another traffic jam. Only this time.... something was very different. No one moved. No one for as far as the eye could see.
For almost three hours we were locked in the military base. It was as if 9-11 happened all over. People were out of their cars, talking as if we were all friends. Everyone scratched their heads and wonder what could have happened to cause such a horrific accident. We listened to each others radios as information was leaked piece by piece.
At that time, a baby decided to be born. The woman was rushed out and escorted to the nearest hospital. We all were struck by the events that we were witnessing in only a few hours.
We heard sirens every few minutes from emergency vehicles on the highway. "What was it now? Fire? Ambulance? Police? What was happening just 2 miles away? How was it? Did the pilot eject? Could he? What? A death? Who? How many more?
Every one was on the cell phone. I couldn't get a call out. There was too much cellular traffic.
Finally! The cars were moving! You could almost hear time start to move again. We were quickly going back into our cars, starting our engines and focusing on how we get out back to our lives.
Will we remember how these men risk their life for our entertainment? Will we be so quick to try to beat everyone out of the parking lot next time? Will we truly be grateful for what we witness?
Thank you God for my day. Thank you for those men, and all the others that risk their lives for not only my entertainment, but for my life and my son's future to stay a free American.
Thank you God for each and every gift you give. Whether it be a moment, or a life, or anything you (the reader) can imagine.
As I lay in bed last night thinking of my day, I cried. I cried because I don't know how many people left early, too consumed in their own days, to not appreciate the whole show that all the men, not only the Blue Angels, risk their lives to put on for us.
I cried because He was the only one who lost his life. He went down. He went down alone. I thank God that he didn't go down on base where thousands of spectators were.
So if you wonder what it was like. It was horrible. Don't need pictures. Don't need video. It is just what it was, was horrible.
Rest In Peace
Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis from Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for
following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and
comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are
automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some
comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules,
click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

I have had nightmares every night since. I teach at a school that many of the students live near the crash site. It was a very sad day at our school today. We shared a moment of silence for Lt. Davis as a school.

I appreciate your blog. Very well put. You are right...for anyone who wonders what it was like...there is only one word to describe it and "horrible" is it.

Comments are welcome, so long as they are civil. A Facebook account is required. Abuse may result in the commenter being permanently blocked. Personal attacks are strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to remove any comments at any time.